Isabella Spaga is about to reluctantly walk down the aisle with Mr. Dangerously Wrong...but not if dashing vampire Chance has anything to say about it. As a favor to Bones, Chance has come to derail this wedding of beauty to the beast. Now if only he can keep his hands off the bride. From New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress world, it’s the wedding of the season...that everyone wants to miss.

For fans of the Night Huntress series, Happily Never After is a great quick read featuring a few new characters (and one old favorite). Before I continue, I will say that if you’re looking for some Cat and Bones action, this is not the book for you. Happily features Chance, a vampire sired by Bones who is sent to help out the granddaughter of one of Bones’ former human donors. Isabella (said granddaughter) is in big trouble because the local “mini-mob” boss is blackmailing her into marrying him by threatening her brother’s life. While Chance’s job is to take care of the situation, he finds himself growing more attached to Isa, who feels the same attraction. But before things can get hot and heavy, they have to find Isa’s brother or he’ll end up swimming with the fishes.

I don’t tend to read novellas often because I prefer a longer story, but I thought this was a cute, quick look into the lives of characters outside of Cat’s circle from the main Night Huntress books. Bones is featured briefly at the beginning and the end but plays a very minor role. The real stars are Chance and Isabella. Chance feels honor-bound to help Isa regain her freedom, so to speak, and return her brother to her. Not to mention he’s fighting off a serious attraction to the restaurant owner. Isa can’t help but like Chance but with a forced marriage and her brother’s life looming overhead, she isn’t sure which way to go. And I can’t forget Isa’s grandmother, a friend of Bones’ and not your typical older woman. She knows things most people don’t and won’t stand for her family being toyed with by wannabe gangsters.

Compared to the Night Huntress books, I wouldn’t say this is the best read, but at the same time it’s light, quick, and sums up the short story of Isa and Chance quite neatly. Fans of Frost’s writing will enjoy this novella and should definitely add it to their to-read lists.

[This novella falls between books #1 and #2 of the Night Huntress series.]